Five men, three companies and a charity - all UK-based - have had their assets frozen over alleged links to al-Qaeda.

They have been accused of contributing to the finances of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG).

The US Treasury, which sought the assets move from the UK, calls the LIFG an "al-Qaeda affiliate" known for engaging in terrorist activity.

Three of the men are from Birmingham, one is from another part of the Midlands and one is from Manchester.

News of the freezing emerged via the US Treasury as it announced it was moving to financially incapacitate the groups and individuals.

UN sanctions

A spokeswoman said she was unable to comment on exactly where or what their assets were.

And the statement from the US Treasury accused the relevant parties of having supported the LIFG "through various financial means, primarily in the United Kingdom".

A Bank of England statement said: "The individuals and entities ... fall within the UK financial sanctions regime under the al-Qaeda and Taliban (United Nations Measures) Order 2002."

One of the men named by the US Treasury, 44-year-old Tahir Nasuf from Manchester, denied any connection to the LIFG.

Mr Nasuf told the BBC: " "We're helping the poor people everywhere and all this news it's incorrect, you know, it's not true."

He added: "I am angry, it is not right".

Mr Nasuf denies the US claims (Photo: Manchester Evening News)

A UK Treasury spokesman said: "The UK considered carefully the case for listing the individuals and entities and concluded that they met the criteria for designation as set out in the relevant [UN] Security Council resolutions, specifically association with al-Qaeda."

Scotland Yard would not say whether any of those named were being investigated.

A spokesman said: "We are not prepared to discuss who we may or may not wish to interview in connection with investigations."

According to the US Treasury, the LIFG was formed in the early 1990s in Afghanistan, and formally announced its existence in 1995.